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Chapter 13 part 2
Babu sat on the edge of his bed, his head heavy with thoughts. The weight of his unspoken words pressed against his chest. Across from him, Aruna leaned casually against him, watching him with an unreadable expression.
"You should wait for the right time to tell Amma," Aruna finally said, her voice steady, almost calculated.
Babu sighed, rubbing his temples. "Akka, I don’t understand. Don’t you think I should tell her immediately?" His voice carried a mix of urgency and uncertainty, as if he was desperate for someone to reassure him that what he felt was right.
Aruna moved closer, hugging him and placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I understand, Babu. But think about it. Amma made this decision with her whole heart, believing this marriage was best for you. If you tell her outright, she’ll be hurt… maybe even angry. You need to be smart about this."
Babu sighed again, clearly uneasy. "Fine. I’ll wait. But How will I know what is the right time ?"
Aruna’s smile widened ever so slightly, her voice laced with reassurance. "I’ll tell you, Babu," she said smoothly. "Just trust me. I’ll make sure everything happens in a way that doesn’t hurt you or Amma."
Babu looked at her, still conflicted but willing to rely on her judgment. "Alright, Akka. I’ll wait for you to tell me."
Aruna nodded, patting his hand gently. "Good. Just leave everything to me."
A moment of silence hung between them, heavy and charged.
But while Babu struggled with guilt, Aruna's mind was racing in a different direction. She had convinced him to wait, but for her, this was far from over. She had accepted defeat before, believing there was no way to change fate. But now… now, fate has placed an opportunity right in her hands.
Gita’s reluctance could be used as a weapon. It was the crack in the foundation she needed. If played right, this situation could be manipulated to serve her hidden desires. The engagement falling apart would be the first step. What happened after that… Well, that would be entirely up to her.
A slow, secretive smile played on her lips.As Babu sat there, trying to push away the unease settling in his chest, Aruna’s mind was already working. She had just gained complete control over the situation. She got Babu wrapped around her fingers. Now, all she had to do was wait for the perfect moment to strike.
Perhaps the game wasn’t over after all.
The next day Aruna sat across from Purushotham, her expression unusually serious. The warmth that typically colored their conversations was absent, replaced by a distant resolve. "Purushotham," she began, her voice steady but soft, "I think it's time we ended this...whatever we have between us."
Purushotham blinked in surprise, the words cutting through him like a sudden chill. "What? Why? Did I do something wrong?"
She shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips as though to soften the blow. "No, you've been wonderful. But things are changing. Babu is getting married, and Amma has been introducing me to some suitable matches. I think it's time for me to settle down too."
The words struck Purushotham hard, but he summoned the courage to say what he'd been holding back for so long. "Aruna...if settling down is what you want, then why not with me? I love you. I want to be with you, not just for now, but for a lifetime."
Aruna's eyes widened for a moment before softening with a mix of affection and regret. "Purushotham, you're sweet. Fun to be with, even. But I can't share a life with you."
"Why not?" he asked, his voice heavy with frustration and pain.
She sighed deeply, averting her gaze. "Because I'm ten years older than you, for one. You deserve someone who can give you the family you want, the future you deserve. I may not even be able to have children at my age."
"That doesn't matter to me," he protested earnestly. "I want you, Aruna."
Aruna reached across the table and gently placed her hand over his. "You're saying that now, but someday you'll realize how important those things are. I can't be the reason you miss out on a full life. I care about you too much to let that happen."
Her words left him speechless. The finality in her tone was undeniable. Purushotham sat back, his chest heavy with unspoken emotions, as Aruna stood and gave him a sad smile. "You're an amazing person, Purushotham. But this is where we part ways. I'm sorry."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and left the room, leaving Purushotham to grapple with the bittersweet ache of love and rejection.
The next day Purushotham went to the Quarters, he sat across from Babu, his expression tense with frustration and hope. "Babu, I need your help," he said, leaning forward. "I asked Aruna to marry me, but she turned me down. I love her, Babu. I know you’re close to her—maybe you can talk to her, make her understand."
Babu, already drowning in his own turmoil, barely looked up. He let out a tired sigh, rubbing his face. "Purushotham, I don’t have the energy for this right now."
Purushotham’s face fell, but he pressed on. "Please, Babu. She listens to you. Maybe if you just—"
Babu cut him off with a sharp tone, his patience wearing thin. "If Akka doesn’t want to marry you, then let her go." His words were blunt, almost dismissive.
Purushotham stared at him, taken aback. "But—"
"There’s no ‘but,’ Purushotham," Babu said, finally looking at him. His voice was flat, devoid of sympathy. "She made her choice. Accept it and move on."
Purushotham sat in stunned silence. He had expected resistance, maybe even skepticism, but not this cold indifference. He had always thought of Babu as his closest friend, someone who would support him, especially in matters of the heart. But now, it felt like Babu wasn’t even present in the conversation—his mind was somewhere else entirely.
Realizing he wasn’t going to get any help, Purushotham stood up, his hands clenched into fists. "Fine," he muttered, his voice laced with disappointment. "I’ll handle it myself."
Babu didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on the floor. As Purushotham walked away, a storm of emotions brewed inside him—anger, hurt, and an unsettling feeling that something was very wrong with his friend.
As Purushotham walked out of the government quarters, his mind was a whirlwind of frustration and disappointment. He had come seeking Babu’s help, hoping his friend would at least try to persuade Aruna. Instead, he had been met with cold indifference.
Lost in thought, he barely noticed Rani standing near the gate, adjusting her handbag as she prepared to leave. When she saw him, she smiled and greeted him warmly.
"Good evening, Purushotham sir."
He walked past her without responding, still caught up in his own emotions.
Rani frowned and called out again, a little louder this time. "Sir?"
Purushotham blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. He turned to her, his expression softening just a little. "Oh, Rani... sorry, I didn’t hear you."
Rani tilted her head, studying his face. "You look really disturbed. Something wrong?"
Purushotham sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It’s... it’s a long story."
Rani gave him a knowing look. "Well, I’ve got time. How about we grab a coffee? You look like you could use one."
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah… I guess I could use a break."
A short while later, they sat in a small café nearby, the low hum of conversations and the clinking of cups filling the space around them. Purushotham stirred his coffee absentmindedly, staring at the dark liquid as if searching for answers.
Rani leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. "Alright, spill it. What’s bothering you so much?"
Purushotham took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I proposed to Aruna."
Rani’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Wait... you mean marriage?"
He nodded. "Yes. I love her, Rani. I really do. But she rejected me."
Rani’s face turned thoughtful. "Why?"
Purushotham looked down at his cup. "She said she doesn’t feel the same way about me. That I’m fun to be with, but she can’t share a life with me." His voice was laced with pain. "She even said she’s too old for me and might not be able to give me a family."
Rani pursed her lips, thinking carefully before responding. "And what did Babu say?"
Purushotham scoffed, shaking his head. "That’s the worst part. I went to him for support, hoping he’d help convince her, but he just brushed me off. He told me to let her go."
Rani’s eyes widened slightly. "That doesn’t sound like Babu. He might be arrogant sometimes, but he cares about his sister, doesn’t he?"
"That’s what I thought too," Purushotham muttered. "But today… it felt like he wasn’t even listening. Like he had bigger problems on his mind."
Rani tapped her fingers on the table, thinking. "Something doesn’t add up here. Aruna has always been calculative. If she’s rejecting you, there’s a reason beyond what she’s telling you."
Purushotham looked up, hope flickering in his eyes. "You think so?"
Rani nodded slowly. "I don’t know what game she’s playing, but trust me, she never does anything without a reason. And Babu being distant? That’s another red flag."
Purushotham let out a heavy sigh. "Then what should I do?"
Rani smirked slightly. "For now, be patient. Let’s keep our eyes open and see how things unfold. Maybe Aruna and Babu are both caught in something we don’t fully understand yet."
Purushotham nodded reluctantly, still unsure but comforted by Rani’s words. As they finished their coffee, he felt a renewed determination—he wasn’t ready to give up on Aruna just yet.
Continued in the next part……
Babu sat on the edge of his bed, his head heavy with thoughts. The weight of his unspoken words pressed against his chest. Across from him, Aruna leaned casually against him, watching him with an unreadable expression.
"You should wait for the right time to tell Amma," Aruna finally said, her voice steady, almost calculated.
Babu sighed, rubbing his temples. "Akka, I don’t understand. Don’t you think I should tell her immediately?" His voice carried a mix of urgency and uncertainty, as if he was desperate for someone to reassure him that what he felt was right.
Aruna moved closer, hugging him and placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I understand, Babu. But think about it. Amma made this decision with her whole heart, believing this marriage was best for you. If you tell her outright, she’ll be hurt… maybe even angry. You need to be smart about this."
Babu sighed again, clearly uneasy. "Fine. I’ll wait. But How will I know what is the right time ?"
Aruna’s smile widened ever so slightly, her voice laced with reassurance. "I’ll tell you, Babu," she said smoothly. "Just trust me. I’ll make sure everything happens in a way that doesn’t hurt you or Amma."
Babu looked at her, still conflicted but willing to rely on her judgment. "Alright, Akka. I’ll wait for you to tell me."
Aruna nodded, patting his hand gently. "Good. Just leave everything to me."
A moment of silence hung between them, heavy and charged.
But while Babu struggled with guilt, Aruna's mind was racing in a different direction. She had convinced him to wait, but for her, this was far from over. She had accepted defeat before, believing there was no way to change fate. But now… now, fate has placed an opportunity right in her hands.
Gita’s reluctance could be used as a weapon. It was the crack in the foundation she needed. If played right, this situation could be manipulated to serve her hidden desires. The engagement falling apart would be the first step. What happened after that… Well, that would be entirely up to her.
A slow, secretive smile played on her lips.As Babu sat there, trying to push away the unease settling in his chest, Aruna’s mind was already working. She had just gained complete control over the situation. She got Babu wrapped around her fingers. Now, all she had to do was wait for the perfect moment to strike.
Perhaps the game wasn’t over after all.
The next day Aruna sat across from Purushotham, her expression unusually serious. The warmth that typically colored their conversations was absent, replaced by a distant resolve. "Purushotham," she began, her voice steady but soft, "I think it's time we ended this...whatever we have between us."
Purushotham blinked in surprise, the words cutting through him like a sudden chill. "What? Why? Did I do something wrong?"
She shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips as though to soften the blow. "No, you've been wonderful. But things are changing. Babu is getting married, and Amma has been introducing me to some suitable matches. I think it's time for me to settle down too."
The words struck Purushotham hard, but he summoned the courage to say what he'd been holding back for so long. "Aruna...if settling down is what you want, then why not with me? I love you. I want to be with you, not just for now, but for a lifetime."
Aruna's eyes widened for a moment before softening with a mix of affection and regret. "Purushotham, you're sweet. Fun to be with, even. But I can't share a life with you."
"Why not?" he asked, his voice heavy with frustration and pain.
She sighed deeply, averting her gaze. "Because I'm ten years older than you, for one. You deserve someone who can give you the family you want, the future you deserve. I may not even be able to have children at my age."
"That doesn't matter to me," he protested earnestly. "I want you, Aruna."
Aruna reached across the table and gently placed her hand over his. "You're saying that now, but someday you'll realize how important those things are. I can't be the reason you miss out on a full life. I care about you too much to let that happen."
Her words left him speechless. The finality in her tone was undeniable. Purushotham sat back, his chest heavy with unspoken emotions, as Aruna stood and gave him a sad smile. "You're an amazing person, Purushotham. But this is where we part ways. I'm sorry."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and left the room, leaving Purushotham to grapple with the bittersweet ache of love and rejection.
The next day Purushotham went to the Quarters, he sat across from Babu, his expression tense with frustration and hope. "Babu, I need your help," he said, leaning forward. "I asked Aruna to marry me, but she turned me down. I love her, Babu. I know you’re close to her—maybe you can talk to her, make her understand."
Babu, already drowning in his own turmoil, barely looked up. He let out a tired sigh, rubbing his face. "Purushotham, I don’t have the energy for this right now."
Purushotham’s face fell, but he pressed on. "Please, Babu. She listens to you. Maybe if you just—"
Babu cut him off with a sharp tone, his patience wearing thin. "If Akka doesn’t want to marry you, then let her go." His words were blunt, almost dismissive.
Purushotham stared at him, taken aback. "But—"
"There’s no ‘but,’ Purushotham," Babu said, finally looking at him. His voice was flat, devoid of sympathy. "She made her choice. Accept it and move on."
Purushotham sat in stunned silence. He had expected resistance, maybe even skepticism, but not this cold indifference. He had always thought of Babu as his closest friend, someone who would support him, especially in matters of the heart. But now, it felt like Babu wasn’t even present in the conversation—his mind was somewhere else entirely.
Realizing he wasn’t going to get any help, Purushotham stood up, his hands clenched into fists. "Fine," he muttered, his voice laced with disappointment. "I’ll handle it myself."
Babu didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on the floor. As Purushotham walked away, a storm of emotions brewed inside him—anger, hurt, and an unsettling feeling that something was very wrong with his friend.
As Purushotham walked out of the government quarters, his mind was a whirlwind of frustration and disappointment. He had come seeking Babu’s help, hoping his friend would at least try to persuade Aruna. Instead, he had been met with cold indifference.
Lost in thought, he barely noticed Rani standing near the gate, adjusting her handbag as she prepared to leave. When she saw him, she smiled and greeted him warmly.
"Good evening, Purushotham sir."
He walked past her without responding, still caught up in his own emotions.
Rani frowned and called out again, a little louder this time. "Sir?"
Purushotham blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. He turned to her, his expression softening just a little. "Oh, Rani... sorry, I didn’t hear you."
Rani tilted her head, studying his face. "You look really disturbed. Something wrong?"
Purushotham sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It’s... it’s a long story."
Rani gave him a knowing look. "Well, I’ve got time. How about we grab a coffee? You look like you could use one."
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah… I guess I could use a break."
A short while later, they sat in a small café nearby, the low hum of conversations and the clinking of cups filling the space around them. Purushotham stirred his coffee absentmindedly, staring at the dark liquid as if searching for answers.
Rani leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. "Alright, spill it. What’s bothering you so much?"
Purushotham took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I proposed to Aruna."
Rani’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Wait... you mean marriage?"
He nodded. "Yes. I love her, Rani. I really do. But she rejected me."
Rani’s face turned thoughtful. "Why?"
Purushotham looked down at his cup. "She said she doesn’t feel the same way about me. That I’m fun to be with, but she can’t share a life with me." His voice was laced with pain. "She even said she’s too old for me and might not be able to give me a family."
Rani pursed her lips, thinking carefully before responding. "And what did Babu say?"
Purushotham scoffed, shaking his head. "That’s the worst part. I went to him for support, hoping he’d help convince her, but he just brushed me off. He told me to let her go."
Rani’s eyes widened slightly. "That doesn’t sound like Babu. He might be arrogant sometimes, but he cares about his sister, doesn’t he?"
"That’s what I thought too," Purushotham muttered. "But today… it felt like he wasn’t even listening. Like he had bigger problems on his mind."
Rani tapped her fingers on the table, thinking. "Something doesn’t add up here. Aruna has always been calculative. If she’s rejecting you, there’s a reason beyond what she’s telling you."
Purushotham looked up, hope flickering in his eyes. "You think so?"
Rani nodded slowly. "I don’t know what game she’s playing, but trust me, she never does anything without a reason. And Babu being distant? That’s another red flag."
Purushotham let out a heavy sigh. "Then what should I do?"
Rani smirked slightly. "For now, be patient. Let’s keep our eyes open and see how things unfold. Maybe Aruna and Babu are both caught in something we don’t fully understand yet."
Purushotham nodded reluctantly, still unsure but comforted by Rani’s words. As they finished their coffee, he felt a renewed determination—he wasn’t ready to give up on Aruna just yet.
Continued in the next part……